Armenia mission: Starkey Foundation
A gentleman after being fitted with a hearing aid by Paula in Armenia.
In 2017, I had one of the most incredible experiences when I joined a hearing mission to Armenia. As part of a 17-strong team from the UK, we travelled to Yerevan, the capital, to bring hearing technology and expertise to those in need. This was the first time a UK team had participated in an overseas mission as part of the worldwide Starkey Foundation initiative, organised by Starkey Hearing Technologies. Over the years, the Foundation has provided more than 1.9 million hearing devices across 100+ countries.
During our time in Yerevan, we fitted hearing aids, offered counselling, and set up aftercare for 1,806 individuals. Collaborating closely with a local audiology team, to ensure long-term support was in place for ongoing care.
For me, it was deeply humbling to witness the transformative power of hearing. Many of the people we helped were receiving hearing aids for the very first time in their lives, while others, who had lost access to hearing aids after theirs had broken and could not be replaced, were finally able to hear again. Seeing their faces light up whether at hearing for the first time or rediscovering it was unforgettable. The gratitude they showed, often through simple yet heartfelt gestures like offering sweets or apples, was profoundly moving.
Hearing aids do so much more than restore sound, they bridge gaps in education, employment, and daily life for children and adults with hearing loss. Through missions like this, the Starkey Foundation aims to empower individuals and communities to improve their quality of life and pay it forward. Their motto is “So The World May Hear.” Our goal as a team was to help establish a sustainable, community-based hearing service in Yerevan, ensuring the support we provided could continue long after we left.
The World Health Organization reports that over 360 million people globally live with disabling hearing loss, with the majority in developing countries. Tragically, less than three percent have access to hearing aids or adequate care. This mission was a small step toward addressing that gap, and it’s a cause I’m passionate about.
Mission team and volunteers.
I returned to Armenia with the UK team again in 2018 and 2019, but sadly, since COVID, we have not been able to return. However, I know that the Armenian team continues the hard work to keep Armenia hearing.
If an opportunity arises to continue supporting the Starkey Foundation's “So The World May Hear” project, I hope I will have the opportunity to support it.